How To Create Cool Animated Presentations In 5 Easy Steps

You’ve probably seen one of those really cool flash animated presentations on YouTube and thought to yourself: Wow I want one of those animations….But you soon find out that it’s too expensive to have one made, and doing one yourself is just impossible because there is no tool out there that lets you do it….right?

Well, you’re wrong! Now you can Do-It-Yourself!

Once you have learned the five steps to “creating an awesome Powtoon”, you will be able to create your very own cool animated “presentation-cartoon” (Powtoon) using PowToon’s awesome online presentation software.

Functionally it’s as easy as creating a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation, but there are a few new things that you need to consider – (after you finished reading this article please refer to our video tutorial: How To Create A Product Demo Powtoon)

So here are the steps to create an awesome 90 seconds product demo clip:

Step 1: Script

You need to create a script that describes what will happen in every “scene”.

We recommend working with the following simple guidelines to create an engaging and captivating flow:

Aggravate problem (for example show what usefulness other solutions are there)

What is your solution, what are its benefits and why is it better?

CALL TO ACTION: Test us – Try us – Buy Us.

Remember that when reading your newly created script without pauses, 90 seconds corresponds to around 225 words! So before finalizing your script, please make sure to do a word count (and if I can give you another piece of advice: SHORTEN THE SCRIP ONCE and then SHORTEN IT AGAIN).

Step 2: Voice-Over Guide / Background Music

You need to either choose a background track for your music or record a voice-over guide. This means that you need an mp3 file of the TEXT PARTS of the script read out as they will appear in the Powtoon. Don’t worry, this does not have to be a professional voice-over, it can just be something basic for now, you are doing this mainly as a TIMING guide.

So you can do this yourself (record yourself in http://audioboo.fm/) or use an online text to voice software. You can always hire a professional voice over artist later to give your Powtoon a real polished sound, this can make a really big difference for a relatively small investment (Just place a GIG on the PowToon Marketplace for a Voice-over).

Once you have your voice-over guide, all you need to do is upload it into PowToon and you will now be able to add the visuals to the sound.

Step 3: Dividing the Slides

Now you can start creating slides according to the script. Each slide represents a scene and an idea as outlined in the script. Try to keep your slides short, this way you can put a lot of interesting visuals in your Powtoon.

If you have a voice over, you can make some of the words come to life by making them appear in time on the screen. You don’t need to have each word that appears in the script on the stage, but rather chose important words to emphasize certain points.

Step 4: Populate the Slides

Now it’s time to add graphics, background, props, images and characters to your slides. It’s important to convey the message together with the graphic images and as little text as possible, so the audience doesn’t have to sit there reading all the time (unless this is the effect you’re after) and doesn’t get overwhelmed with information.

For example: If the problem makes the main character sad, it is enough to display the main character in a sad pose without adding any text.

Now you have to time it all. This is the last step and is actually one that can have a significant effect on the “professional” look and feel of your final result.

The PowToon timeline is designed to allow you to easily adjust the appearance and timing of all the elements on the screen. You can now listen to the voice-over running in the background and make sure that all the visual elements reflect what you hear. The more accurate you get this; the more awesome the final result!

How? I was trying that today and couldn’t do it…I did just sign up for the pro version, though…

http://www.phoenixstudios.com.np/corporate Herojig

I just added an image frame and gave it a URL… works okay although I don’t understand the scaling that goes on. Seems to wack the image pretty bad

http://www.facebook.com/jenniferrpeters Jennifer Peters

It might be a temporary bug, I tried adding an image yesterday and was only able to add by URL, but today I can add both by URL and from my computer.

DanielZaturansky

You can upload images with one of the image holders or click on the image icon on the top bar. But there is no personal library yet…

http://www.phoenixstudios.com.np/corporate Herojig

Very nice beta! There are some performance issues here on a mac, using chrome or safari, but other than that very well done! I was hoping to find an autostart option for the embed code, so if you got, please give cheers!

http://www.facebook.com/dzaturansky Daniel Zaturansky

There is an option to get embed code on your Playground page under the Action button or on your player page (when you click play it takes you to the player page) – hope this helps.

http://www.phoenixstudios.com.np/corporate Herojig

yes, thx, doing that here: http://hum.org.np but I don’t know the autostart code (if there is any). thx!

http://www.facebook.com/jenniferrpeters Jennifer Peters

Love this product! But do you have a recommendation for presenting at a conference where there is no internet connection. I would like to download in a format that preserves the “hold” spots I’ve put in, the download format (MP4) doesn’t seem to do that.

http://www.facebook.com/dzaturansky Daniel Zaturansky

The offline presentation tool is on our road-map, but not still there. Please stay tuned to our announcements.

Debbie Firth

I agree, I’d like to use it in a conference for sensitive information that I don’t want online.

Kim McRae

How do you get the library to display as shown in the tour of the interface? There is no library to select the various objects that are used in many of the presentations

http://twitter.com/vivinneifla ∞ fien :) x ∞

why did there isn’t the ‘my library’ while i’m making a presentation? (sorry for my english, still learning)

Nirnajan

i dont see the benefits of free membership. i can not create any 5 min presentation you can skype me at : kiwiqaservices

sophie hendry

lol

grodriguez10

how do you get sound in one specific time

https://plus.google.com/105305201859224163889/ Daniel Glickman

Tight now you need to add one MP3 file that you pre-record that will run along the entire timeline from point zero in your Powtoon.
We are actually starting work on a major sound upgrade that will include several sound features and will probably address the need you express here.

To add sound to your PowToon, click the import button on the top menu bar. Note: Currently you can only import Mp3 files. After you have imported a sound, you can see an indication of it on the timeline. On the left side of the timeline, you will also find mute and delete buttons.

Hi, such a great software but how can I make ofline presentation, it’s been many years waiting :<

jordanaPepper

Hi Anh! Right now PowToon is strictly web based so the creation of a presentation can only be created online, however, if you have a premium Business account you can download your final presentations to your computer once they are finished and you can present with them offline! If you have any further questions let us know!

Hi Diana. If you want to be able to download your PowToon videos to your computer (in either standard definition or HD) you need to upgrade to one of our premium plans (pro or business). This is only an option we offer to premium members, but as a free member you can upload your videos to YouTube or Wistia